Cincinnati Reds vs Kansas City Royals Picks and Predictions August 18th 2024

The Reds and Royals will face off in an interleague matchup at 1:40 PM ET at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati. The forecast for Sunday’s game calls for light rain and temperatures in the mid to upper 70s. MLBN is carrying this one on TV.

Kansas City has won three straight and is 68-55, while the Reds are 60-63 overall and are looking to end a two-game losing streak. The over/under line is currently 9.5 runs, and the Royals are favored on the money line (-110). The Reds are the slight favorite on the money line (-108), and today’s pitching matchup is Brady Singer for the Royals and Andrew Abbott for the Reds.

So far this season, Brady Singer has made 24 starts and has a record of 8-8. His ERA for the season is 3.32, along with a WHIP of 1.22. Singer’s last outing came against the Twins, where he took the loss, giving up six earned runs in five innings of work. Before that outing, he had won two straight starts. Against the Red Sox on August 5th, he gave up four earned runs in 5 2/3 innings of work. The right-hander has allowed at least one home run in each of his last three starts.

For the season, the Royals are averaging 4.9 runs per game, which is 8th in the league. They have been even better at home, putting up 5.3 runs per contest. As a team, they are batting .256, which is the 5th best mark in the league, and are also one of the best teams in terms of avoiding strikeouts. Kansas City’s team on-base percentage is .313, and they are 8th in the league with a slugging percentage of .420.

Bobby Witt Jr. has been one of the best hitters in the league this season, as he is batting .351 with 25 home runs and 90 RBIs. He has been even better of late, going 16/39 in his last 10 games with five homers. Salvador Perez has also been a big power threat for the Royals, as he has 22 home runs and 81 RBIs.

Cincinnati is sending Andrew Abbott to the mound today vs. the Royals, and he will be looking to build off his last outing, where he picked up the win. In that start vs. the Cardinals, he went 6 2/3 innings and gave up just one earned run. Looking back further, Abbott had given up at least two earned runs in three straight starts before that outing. For the season, he has a record of 10-9, an ERA of 3.59, and opponents are batting .229 off the left-hander. Abbott’s WHIP for the season is 1.29.

Elly De La Cruz and Spencer Steer have been the Reds’ top power hitters this season, as De La Cruz has 21 homers (15th in the MLB) and Steer isn’t far behind with 18 long balls. De La Cruz is batting .261 for the season, while Steer comes in with a batting average of just .233. Jeimer Candelario is also near the top of the Reds’ home run leaderboard with 20 homers, but he is batting just .226 for the season and has gone 3/19 in his last five games.

Jonathan India has gone 5/18 in his last five games, including two home runs, and has also scored three runs in this stretch. Tyler Stephenson has also gone 7/23 in his last six games, and he has two homers in this stretch. Stephenson is also on a four-game hitting streak.

Royals Eye Crucial Sweep Against Reds

The Kansas City Royals are on the brink of a big series sweep against the Cincinnati Reds as they continue their push for a playoff spot. Sunday’s game is the finale of this three-game interleague series, and both teams are in very different places right now. The Royals, energized by a breakout performance from Dairon Blanco, are looking to solidify their wild-card position, while the Reds, struggling with injuries and recent losses, are desperate to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Blanco’s Breakout Powers Royals’ Dominance

Dairon Blanco made the most of his rare start on Saturday, putting on a career-best performance that led the Royals to a commanding 13-1 win over the Reds. Blanco, a 31-year-old reserve outfielder, smashed two home runs and drove in seven RBIs—both personal bests. What made it even more impressive is that he hadn’t started a game since August 4, making his impact even more special.

Blanco’s heroics took some of the pressure off Kansas City’s star trio of Vinnie Pasquantino, Salvador Perez, and AL MVP candidate Bobby Witt Jr., who combined for five hits and two RBIs. With 65 home runs and 260 RBIs between them this season, these three have been carrying the Royals’ offense. But Blanco’s performance shows just how important depth is as Kansas City makes a serious push for their first playoff appearance since winning the World Series in 2015.

“That’s what good teams do: They rely on the whole team,” Pasquantino said. “And everybody here knows their role, and Blanco filled in and did his job tonight. It was incredible. We need more of that if we want to get where we want to go.”

Royals on the Playoff Hunt

The Royals come into Sunday’s game 2 1/2 games ahead of the Boston Red Sox in the race for the final American League wild-card spot. With a chance to sweep the Reds and keep their lead, Kansas City knows just how high the stakes are. Every win matters as the Royals look to end their eight-year playoff drought.

Reds Reeling Amid Injuries and Slump

On the flip side, the Cincinnati Reds are struggling to stay in the National League wild-card race. Saturday dealt them a tough blow when their ace, Hunter Greene, was placed on the injured list with a sore right elbow—a precautionary move that couldn’t have come at a worse time. Greene, who ranks third in the NL with a 2.83 ERA and is tied for fifth in strikeouts, has been a rock for the Reds’ pitching staff. His absence is a major setback for Cincinnati’s playoff hopes.

To make matters worse, starter Nick Lodolo was roughed up for eight runs in just 2 1/3 innings on Saturday, making their situation even more dire. With this loss, the Reds are now five games behind the Atlanta Braves for the final NL wild-card spot, putting immense pressure on the team to turn things around.

Pitching Matchup: Singer vs. Abbott

Brady Singer (Kansas City Royals)

Brady Singer, with an 8-8 record and a 3.32 ERA, will be on the mound for the Royals, looking to bounce back from a rough outing against the Minnesota Twins, where he gave up six runs over five innings. Singer has shown flashes of brilliance this season, and a strong performance could be the key to securing the sweep for Kansas City.

Andrew Abbott (Cincinnati Reds)

Andrew Abbott, who holds a 10-9 record with a 3.59 ERA, will be tasked with stopping the Royals’ momentum. Abbott is coming off a solid start against the St. Louis Cardinals, where he allowed just one run over 6 2/3 innings. However, this will be his first career start against the Royals, adding an element of unpredictability to the matchup.

Game Implications: High Stakes for Both Teams

For the Royals, a sweep of the Reds would not only boost their playoff chances but also send a strong message as they continue their wild-card chase. The team’s ability to get contributions from all corners of the roster, as shown by Blanco’s standout performance, is a positive sign as they push toward the postseason.

For the Reds, things are more precarious. With Greene sidelined and their playoff hopes fading, the pressure is on Abbott and the rest of the team to pull out a win and avoid a demoralizing sweep at home. A loss would push them further out of the wild-card race and make their road to the playoffs even tougher.

Royals Poised to Sweep, Reds Desperate to Stay Afloat

As the Kansas City Royals and Cincinnati Reds face off in the series finale, the stakes couldn’t be higher. The Royals are on the verge of a crucial sweep that could strengthen their wild-card standing, while the Reds are fighting to keep their postseason dreams alive amid a tough stretch. With Brady Singer and Andrew Abbott set to duel on the mound, Sunday’s game promises to be a pivotal moment for both teams as they navigate the final weeks of the season.

For a money-line pick, we are leaning toward the Reds to come out on top at home. As for how we would play the over/under line, we would go with the under. This game is projected to have the 4th highest combined run total and 6th most hits. However, we are leaning toward the Reds to pick up the win. Cincinnati’s offense has the 5th best projected home run total in today’s slate of games, and Brady Singer has the 5th best chance to pick up a win among today’s starters.